andersonville-第5部分

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neighborhood　of　heavy　firing。

This　nervous　tremor　was　not　peculiar　to　the　engineers　of　our
transportation　department。　　It　was　noticeable　in　the　gentry　who　carted
the　scanty　provisions　of　the　Rebels。　　One　of　Wheeler's　cavalrymen　told　me
that　the　brigade　to　which　he　belonged　was　one　evening　ordered　to　move　at
daybreak。　　The　night　was　rainy；　and　it　was　thought　best　to　discharge　the
guns　and　reload　before　starting。　　Unfortunately；　it　was　neglected　to
inform　the　teamsters　of　this；　and　at　the　first　discharge　they　varnished
from　the　scene　with　such　energy　that　it　was　over　a　week　before　the
brigade　succeeded　in　getting　them　back　again。

Why　association　with　the　mule　should　thus　demoralize　a　man；　has　always
been　a　puzzle　to　me；　for　while　the　mule；　as　Col。　Ingersoll　has　remarked；
is　an　animal　without　pride　of　ancestry　or　hope　of　posterity；　he　is　still
not　a　coward　by　any　means。　　It　is　beyond　dispute　that　a　full…grown　and
active　lioness　once　attacked　a　mule　in　the　grounds　of　the　Cincinnati
Zoological　Garden；　and　was　ignominiously　beaten；　receiving　injuries　from
which　she　died　shortly　afterward。

The　apparition　of　a　badly…scared　teamster　urging　one　of　his　wheel　mules
at　break…neck　speed　over　the　rough　ground；　yelling　for　protection　against
〃them　Johnnies；〃　who　had　appeared　on　some　hilltop　in　sight　of　where　he
was　gathering　corn；　was　an　almost　hourly　occurrence。　　Of　course　the　squad
dispatched　to　his　assistance　found　nobody。

Still；　there　were　plenty　of　Rebels　in　the　country；　and　they　hung　around
our　front；　exchanging　shots　with　us　at　long　taw；　and　occasionally
treating　us　to　a　volley　at　close　range；　from　some　favorable　point。
But　we　had　the　decided　advantage　of　them　at　this　game。　　Our　Sharpe's
carbines　were　much　superior　in　every　way　to　their　Enfields。　　They　would
shoot　much　farther；　and　a　great　deal　more　rapidly；　so　that　the　Virginians
were　not　long　in　discovering　that　they　were　losing　more　than　they　gained
in　this　useless　warfare。

Once　they　played　a　sharp　practical　joke　upon　us。　　Copper　River　is　a　deep；
exceedingly　rapid　mountain　stream；　with　a　very　slippery　rocky　bottom。
The　Rebels　blockaded　a　ford　in　such　a　way　that　it　was　almost　impossible
for　a　horse　to　keep　his　feet。　　Then　they　tolled　us　off　in　pursuit　of　a
small　party　to　this　ford。　　When　we　came　to　it　there　was　a　light　line　of
skirmishers　on　the　opposite　bank；　who　popped　away　at　us　industriously。
Our　boys　formed　in　line；　gave　the　customary；　cheer；　and　dashed　in　to
carry　the　ford　at　a　charge。　　As　they　did　so　at　least　one…half　of　the
horses　went　down　as　if　they　were　shot；　and　rolled　over　their　riders　in
the　swift　running；　ice…cold　waters。　　The　Rebels　yelled　a　triumphant
laugh；　as　they　galloped　away；　and　the　laugh　was　re…echoed　by　our　fellows；
who　were　as　quick　to　see　the　joke　as　the　other　side。　　We　tried　to　get
even　with　them　by　a　sharp　chase；　but　we　gave　it　up　after　a　few　miles；
without　having　taken　any　prisoners。

But；　after　all；　there　was　much　to　make　our　sojourn　in　the　Valley
endurable。　　Though　we　did　not　wear　fine　linen；　we　fared　sumptuouslyfor
soldiersevery　day。　　The　cavalryman　is　always　charged　by　the　infantry
and　artillery　with　having　a　finer　and　surer　scent　for　the　good　things　in
the　country　than　any　other　man　in　the　service。　　He　is　believed　to　have　an
instinct　that　will　unfailingly　lead　him；　in　the　dankest　night；　to　the
roosting　place　of　the　most　desirable　poultry；　and　after　he　has　camped　in
a　neighborhood　for　awhile　it　would　require　a　close　chemical　analysis　to
find　a　trace　of　ham。

We　did　our　best　to　sustain　the　reputation　of　our　arm　of　the　service。
We　found　the　most　delicious　hams　packed　away　in　the　ash…houses。
They　were　small；　and　had　that；　exquisite　nutty　flavor；　peculiar　to　mast…
fed　bacon。　　Then　there　was　an　abundance　of　the　delightful　little　apple
known　as　〃romanites。〃　　There　were　turnips；　pumpkins；　cabbages；　potatoes；
and　the　usual　products　of　the　field　in　plenty；　even　profusion。　　The　corn
in　the　fields　furnished　an　ample　supply　of　breadstuff。　　We　carried　it　to
and　ground　it　in　the　quaintest；　rudest　little　mills　that　can　be　imagined
outside　of　the　primitive　affairs　by　which　the　women　of　Arabia　coarsely
powder　the　grain　for　the　family　meal。　　Sometimes　the　mill　would　consist
only　of　four　stout　posts　thrust　into　the　ground　at　the　edge　of　some
stream。　　A　line　of　boulders　reaching　diagonally　across　the　stream
answered　for　a　dam；　by　diverting　a　portion　of　the　volume　of　water　to　a
channel　at　the　side；　where　it　moved　a　clumsily　constructed　wheel；　that
turned　two　small　stones；　not　larger　than　good…sized　grindstones。　　Over
this　would　be　a　shed　made　by　resting　poles　in　forked　posts　stuck　into　the
ground；　and　covering　these　with　clapboards　held　in　place　by　large　flat
stones。　　They　resembled　the　mills　of　the　godsin　grinding　slowly。
It　used　to　seem　that　a　healthy　man　could　eat　the　meal　faster　than　they
ground　it。

But　what　savory　meals　we　used　to　concoct　around　the　campfires；　out　of　the
rich　materials　collected　during　the　day's　ride！　　Such　stews；　such　soups；
such　broils；　such　wonderful　commixtures　of　things　diverse　in　nature　and
antagonistic　in　properties　such　daring　culinary　experiments　in　combining
materials　never　before　attempted　to　be　combined。　　The　French　say　of
untasteful　arrangement　of　hues　in　dress　〃that　the　colors　swear　at　each
other。〃　　I　have　often　thought　the　same　thing　of　the　heterogeneities　that
go　to　make　up　a　soldier's　pot…a　feu。

But　for　all　that　they　never　failed　to　taste　deliciously　after　a　long
day's　ride。　　They　were　washed　down　by　a　tincupful　of　coffee　strong　enough
to　tan　leather；　then　came　a　brier…wood　pipeful　of　fragrant　kinnikinnic；
and　a　seat　by　the　ruddy；　sparkling　fire　of　aromatic　cedar　logs；　that
diffused　at　once　warmth；　and　spicy；　pleasing　incense。　　A　chat　over　the
events　of　the　day；　and　the　prospect　of　the　morrow；　the　wonderful　merits
of　each　man's　horse；　and　the　disgusting　irregularities　of　the　mails　from
home；　lasted　until　the　silver…voiced　bugle　rang　out　the　sweet；　mournful
tattoo　of　the　Regulations；　to　the　flowing　cadences　of　which　the　boys　had
arranged　the　absurdly　incongruous　words：

　　　　　　　　　　〃S…a…yD…e…u…t…c…h…e…r…will…you　fight…mit　Sigel！
　　　　　　　　　　Zwei…glass　of　lager…bier；　ja！　ja！　JA！

Words　were　fitted　to　all　the　calls；　which　generally　bore　some
relativeness　to　the　sigmal；　but　these　were　as；　destitute　of　congruity　as
of　sense。

Tattoo　always　produces　an　impression　of　extreme　loneliness。　　As　its
weird；　half…availing　notes　ring　out　and　are　answered　back　from　the
distant　rocks　shrouded　in　night；　and　perhaps　concealing　the　lurking　foe；
the　soldier　remembers　that　he　is　far　away　from　home　and　friendsdeep　in
the　enemy's　country；　encompassed　on　every　hand　by　those　in　deadly
hostility　to　him；　who　are　perhaps　even　then　maturing　the　preparations　for
his　destruction。

As　the　tattoo　sounds；　the　boys　arise　from　around　the　fire；　visit　the
horse　line；　see　that　their　horses　are　securely　tied；　rub　off　from　the
fetlocks　and　legs　such　specks　of　mud　as　may　have　escaped　the　cleaning　in
the　early　evening；　and　if　possible；　smuggle　their　faithful　four…footed
friends　a　few　ears　of　corn；　or　another　bunch　of　hay。

If　not　too　tired；　and　everything　else　is　favorable；　the　cavalryman　has
prepared　himself　a　comfortable　couch　for　the　night。　　He　always　sleeps
with　a　chum。　　The　two　have　gathered　enough　small　tufts　of　pine　or　cedar
to　make　a　comfortable；　springy；　mattress…like　foundation。　　On　this　is
laid　the　poncho　or　rubber　blanket。　　Next　comes　one　of　their　overcoats；
and　upon　this　they　lie；　covering　themselves　with　the　two　blankets　and　the
other　overcoat；　their　feet　towards　the　fire；　their　boots　at　the　foot；　and
their　belts；　with　revolver；　saber　and　carbine；　at　the　sides　of　the　bed。
It　is　surprising　what　an　amount　of　comfort　a　man　can　get　out　of　such　a
couch；　and　how；　at　an　alarm；　he　springs　from　it；　almost　instantly　dressed
and　armed。

Half　an　hour　after　tattoo　the　bugle　rings　out　another　sadly　sweet　strain；
that　hath　a　dying　sound。




CHAPTER　IV。

A　BITTER　COLD　MORNING　AND　A　WARM　AWAKENINGTROUBLE　ALL　ALONG　THE　LINE
FIERCE　CONFLICTS；　ASSAULTS　AND　DEFENSEPROLONGED　AND　DESPERATE　STRUGGLE
ENDING　WITH　A　SURRENDER。

The　night　had　been　the　most　intensely　cold　that　the　country　had　known　for
many　years。　　Peach　and　other　tender　trees　had　been　killed　by　the　frosty
rigor；　and　sentinels　had　been　frozen　to　death　in　our　neighborhood。　　The
deep　snow　on　which　we　made　our　beds；　the　icy　covering　of　the　streams　near
us；　the　limbs　of　the　trees　above　us；　had　been　cracking　with　loud　noises
all　night；　from　the　bitter　cold。

We　were　camped　around　Jonesville；　each　of　the　four　companies　lying　on　one
of　the　roads　leading　from　the　town。　　Company　L　lay　about　a　mile　from　the
Court　House。　　On　a　knoll　at　the　end　of　the　village　toward　us；　and　at　a
point　where　two　roads　separated；one　of　which　led　to　us；stood　a　three…
inch　Rodman　rifle；　belonging　to　the　Twenty…second　Ohio　Battery。　　It　and
its　squad　of　eighteen　men；　under　command　of　Lieutenant　Alger　and　Sergeant
Davis；　had　been　sent　up　to　us　a　few　days　before　from　the　Gap。

The　comfortless　gray　dawn　was　crawling　sluggishly　over　the　mountain…tops；
as　if　numb　as　the　animal　and　vegetable　life　which　had　been　shrinking　all
the　long　hours　under　the　fierce　chill。

The　Major's　bugler　had　saluted　the　morn　with　the　lively；　ringing　tarr…r…
r…a…ta…ara　of　the　Regulation　reveille；　and　the　company　buglers；　as　fast
as　they　could　thaw　out　their　mouth…pieces；　were　answering　him。

I　lay　on　my　bed；　dreading　to　get　up；　and　yet　not　anxious　to　lie　still。
It　was　a　question　which　would　be　the　more　uncomfortable。　　I　turned　over；
to　see　if　there　was　not　another　position　in　which　it　would　be　warmer；
and　began　wishing　for　the　thousandth　time　that　the　efforts　for　the
amelioration　of　the　horrors　of　warfare　would　progress　to　such　a　point　as
to　put　a　stop　to　all　Winter　soldiering；　so　that　a　fellow　could　go　home　as
soon　as　cold　weather　began；　sit　around　a　comfortable　stove　in　a　country
store；　and　tell　camp　stories　until　the　Spring　was　far　enough　advanced　to
let　him　go　back　to　the　front　wearing　a　straw　hat　and　a　linen　duster。

Then　I　began　wondering　how　much　longer　I　would　dare　lie　there；　before　the
Orderly　Sergeant　would　draw